2nd ANNUAL M&A INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AWARDS 2007
11 JOURNALISTS FROM 7 COUNTRIES AWARDED
1st PLACED WINNERS:
JAMES POLITI and FRANCESCO GUERRERA (New York, Financial Times)
JOHANNES BØGGILD (Denmark, Berlingske Nyhedsmagasin)
MARKUS DENTZ (Germany, Finance),
GRANT RINGSHAW (London, Sunday Times)
The winning journalists are:
Media category ‘General Print Press and News Agencies – English Language’
1st place: James Politi and Francesco Guerrera, New York, Financial Times
for “KKR and Blackstone jostle for top spot”, published May 14-16, 2007
2nd place: Alison Tudor, Tokyo/Japan, Reuters
for “Private Equity rolls up sleeves as Asia returns drop”, published October 20, 2006
3rd place: Lina Saigol, London, Financial Times
for “It’s time to stop league table obsession”, published April 23, 2007.
Media category ‘General Print Press and News Agencies – Other Languages’
1st place: Johannes Boeggild, Copenhagen/Denmark, Berlingske Nyhedsmagasin (Denmark)
for “Exclusive interview with the world’s Mr. Private Equity”, published November 24, 2006.
2nd place: Michael Ferber, Zurich/Switzerland, Neue Zuercher Zeitung
for “Wave of mergers and stock market rallye are twin sisters”, published May 5, 2007.
3rd place: Nicola Di Molfetta, Milan/Italy, Economy
for “Conquering the markets”, published August 9, 2006.
Media category ‘Trade Print Press and Electronic Media – All Languages’
1st place: Markus Dentz, Frankfurt/Germany, Finance
for “Helmut the Stubborn”, published April 2007.
2nd place: Eila Rana, London, CFO Europe
for “Public to Private”, published April 2007.
3rd place: John Close, New York, The M&A Journal
for “Spain’s Labyrinth: The endless pursuit of Endesa”, published March 24, 2007.
Special Award ‘Best Scoop Article – All Languages’
Grant Ringshaw, London, Sunday Times
for “Barclays in Pounds 80bn offer to ABN Amro”, published March 18, 2007.
“The great response to our second global M&A media awards proves that we had the right idea at the right time. In total we received 223 articles submitted by 115 journalists from 24 countries, published in 76 media titles”, noted Hans Bethge, Chairman of M&A International Inc., at the award ceremony in the Pavillon Gabriel in the Champs-Élysées
“The M&A International Media Awards winners have provided an exciting and thorough insight into the global M&A market and helped making a complex topic accessible to a larger readership. This requires not only intellectual sharpness of the author, but also the endurance to dive deep into a complicated matter and present a precise and interesting account to the reader.”
A booklet of this year’s winning articles will be available for download at www.mergers.net/award
Note to the editors: Photos of the award ceremony will be available at www.mergers.net/award
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Northoff.Com PR Consultancy, Frankfurt/Germany
Volker Northoff
phone: +49 (0)69 952977-00
mobile: +49 (0)171 3462789
mai@northoff.com, mobile@northoff.com
Penrose Financial, London
Andrew Nicolls
phone: +44 (20) 7786 4881
andrewn@penrose.co.uk
Walek & Associates, New York
Daria Hall
phone: +1 212 5900529
dhall@walek.com
Comments by M&A International Inc.
KKR and Blackstone jostle for top spot
This stylish and intelligent Financial Times article by James Politi and Francesco Guerrera in New York takes first place with a long look at the competition among private equity firms. It addresses a very topical issue with clarity and depth. Well-researched and insightful, it is written with such talent that it conveys the high drama of the private equity industry and the tension among its leading players from the very first sentence. This three-part series makes good use of fact-boxes and profiles and is a pleasure to read.
Private Equity rolls up sleeves as Asia returns drop
A unique and fascinating examination of the changing role of private equity in Asian markets as the private equity firms move from offering investment to becoming more operationally involved. This analysis gets straight to the point and offers up some fresh research. Reuters’ Alison Tudor in Tokyo presents her arguments clearly, while making skilful use of strong comment.
It’s time to stop league table obsession
There have been very few reports about the multitude of bankers that advise on M&A deals, so Lina Saigol’s somewhat sarcastic take on this obsession with collecting big bank advisors is fresh and newsworthy. The piece, published in the Financial Times, is short and written with a light touch, making it a very easy read. Congratulations to Lina in London!
Exclusive interview with the world’s Mr. Private Equity
This is a brilliant interview in a leading Danish media with one of the most interesting individuals active in the M&A scene globally – Blackstone’s Stephen A. Schwarzman -- and an equally brilliant critique of the private equity industry. Berlingske Nyhedsmagasin’s author Johannes Bøggild has a rare talent in being able to deliver weighty news with the artistry of the playwright or novelist; presenting us not only with insight into Mr Schwarzman’s character but also with a critical examination of the private equity industry and the controversy surrounding it.
Wave of mergers and stock market rallye are twin sisters
This well-written and deeply researched analysis of the relationship between M&A and the wider financial markets, which was published in Switzerland’s No. 1 daily newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung, illustrates author Michael Ferber’s firm grasp of the triggers behind increased deal activity and his understanding of its wider implications. The article takes an intelligent historic perspective and concludes with some wise caution.
Conquering the markets
Nicola Di Molfetta, writing for the leading Italian magazine Economy, presents an entertaining and colourful look at the new “Conquerers” – the wide-range of Italian companies (both big and small) who are driving a vigorous boom in cross-border acquisitions. Using strong examples of well-known corporations but also lesser known yet equally acquisitive family groups, this piece is well-researched and strongly argued and highlights the importance of the M&A mid market.
Helmut the Stubborn
In this outstanding read, Markus Dentz presents in the German trade magazine Finance a financial story like a Greek tragedy. His dramatically written analysis of Helmut Pelzer, the oft-troubled entrepreneur and founder of the German HP Pelzer Group, is something most journalists can only dream of creating. Well-grounded in fact and detail, Dentz spins a tale of dramatic encounters with hedge funds without once losing focus. He analyses the complex business situation so easily that the reader stands in awe.
Public to Private
Writing for CFO Europe, Eila Rana in London gives us a fresh and well-thought-out article about the complexities of M&A from the perspective of human resources. It is rare that such an intelligent analysis is made of the “people” issues and problems within the M&A arena and so this smoothly written piece, with its particular look at the interesting emerging markets of eastern Europe, is very enjoyable.
Spain’s Labyrinth: The endless pursuit of Endesa
If ever a feature film ought to be made about the thrills and spills of M&A, this is the perfect subject! John Close’s exceptionally well-researched and written article about the lengthy wrangling over the purchase of Endesa, which was published in The M&A Journal in New York, is so packed with pertinent facts, so intelligently argued and so clearly explained that it could almost be submitted as a thesis to a university.
Barclays in Pounds 80bn offer to ABN Amro
Grant Ringshaw’s Sunday Times exclusive in the UK’s No. 1 Sunday newspaper is the scoop of all scoops. Rumours of a takeover bid for ABN Amro had abounded for years so to actually be the one reporter in the world to break this story is a major news achievement and the goal of almost every journalist. Packed full of detail and background, the rich context in this article explains the significance of the news throughout.